Hebrew text of the plural ending (im) with this name may indicate that Asshurim represents a tribe or people. Specific identification is not possible, but some north Arabian tribe is probably meant. They should not be confused, however, with the Assyrians who were descendants of Shem’s son Asshur.

ASSIR

(Asʹsir) [prisoner, captive].

1. A Levite born in Egypt who was one of the sons of Korah.—Ex. 6:24; 1 Chron. 6:22.

2. 1 Chronicles 6:23, 37 appears to indicate a second Assir as a son or descendant of Ebiasaph.

The Authorized Version uses the name Assir at 1 Chronicles 3:17; however, many modern translations (AS, AT, Mo, NW, Ro, RS) view the Hebrew word here, not as a proper name, but, rather, as a common adjective descriptive of Jeconiah (or, Jehoiachin) as a captive or prisoner in Babylon. (2 Ki. 24:12-15; 25:27-30) The New World Translation fittingly reads: “And the sons of Jeconiah as prisoner [ʼas·sirʹ] were Shealtiel . . .”

ASSOCIATION

An organization of people with a common purpose and having a formal structure. Such an association of individuals may share in performing activities religious, social or industrial, subjecting themselves to some form of government or organizational control. An association may be referred to as a society. At 1 Peter 2:17; 5:9 a form of the Greek word a·del·phoʹtes (“association of brothers”) is applied to the united body of Christians throughout the earth, even though it is composed of small groups, congregations or physically isolated individuals.

The Bible refers to the organized association of Nimrod’s time as “one people.” (Gen. 11:6) Israel is repeatedly referred to by the collective term “people,” the context indicating that it is an organized association of people that is meant. (Deut. 33:29; 1 Sam. 12:22; Isa. 62:10) The Hebrew Scriptures refer to the united worshipers of God earth wide as “[people of] the earth.” (Ps. 66:4; 96:1) Humankind as a family, though not in unity, is sometimes referred to as the “earth” because of their association in a general framework or system of things that controls them.—2 Pet. 3:7; Gen. 18:25; Ps. 96:13.—See WORLD.

ASSOS

(Asʹsos).

A seaport town in Mysia on the N shore of the Gulf of Adramyttium, hence within the Roman province of Asia. On his third missionary tour, the apostle Paul was heading back to Jerusalem and had stopped at Troas. From here he sent Luke and others by boat to Assos, where he planned to join them. The boat had to travel out around Cape Lectum to get to Assos (on the other side of the promontory from Troas) and this enabled Paul to walk the shorter distance (about twenty miles [32 kilometers]) on foot and still arrive at Assos in time to board the ship, which then traveled to Mitylene on the island of Lesbos, S of Assos.—Acts 20:6, 13, 14.

Assos was built on the terraced sides of a volcanic rock formation about seven hundred feet (213 meters) high, about a half mile (805 meters) back from the sea. The site commanded a splendid view of the surrounding area. The road leading from Assos to Troas was well paved in ancient times. The site is today known as Behramköy.

ASSYRIA

The name applied to the country anciently occupying the northern end of the Mesopotamian plain or the extreme northern portion of what is today the modern country of Iraq. Basically, it lay within the triangle formed by the Tigris and Little Zab Rivers, these rivers constituting generally its western and southern boundaries, while the mountains of ancient Armenia formed the northern boundary, and the Zagros mountain range and the land of Media the eastern boundary. It should be noted, however, that these boundaries were quite fluid, Assyria spreading S of the Little Zab when Babylon weakened, but retreating when Assyrian political fortunes were low and those of Babylon were in ascendancy. Such fluctuation was true of the other boundaries and particularly that of the Tigris, as Assyria early extended its influence W of that river. The Assyrian Empire, of course, came to embrace a far larger area.

There was a continued close relationship between Assyria and Babylon throughout their history. They were neighboring states jointly occupying a region with no real natural division to serve as a frontier between their territories. The region of Assyria proper, however, was mostly a highlands area, generally of rugged terrain and with a more invigorating climate than that of Babylonia. The people appear to have been more energetic and aggressive than the Babylonians. They are represented in carved reliefs as of strong physique, dark complexioned, with heavy eyebrows and beard, and prominent nose.

The city of Asshur, the only city of Assyria proper located W of the Tigris, is considered to have been the original capital of the region. Thereafter, however, Nineveh became its most prominent capital, while both Calah and Khorsabad were used at times by Assyrian monarchs as capital cities. A trade route to the Mediterranean and to Asia Minor ran along the northern part of Assyria, and other routes branched off into Armenia and the region of Lake Urmiah. Much of Assyria’s warring was in order to gain or maintain control of such trade routes.

MILITARISM

Assyria was essentially a military power and the historical picture left of its exploits is one of great cruelty and rapaciousness. One of their warrior monarchs, Ashurnasirpal, describes his punishment of a rebellious city in this way:

“I built a pillar over against his city gate and I flayed all the chiefs who had revolted, and I covered the pillar with their skin. Some I walled up within the pillar, some I impaled upon the pillar on stakes, . . . And I cut the limbs of the officers, of the royal officers who had rebelled. . . .

“Many captives from among them I burned with fire, and many I took as living captives. From some I cut off their noses, their ears and their fingers, of many I put out the eyes. I made one pillar of the living and another of heads, and I bound their heads to tree trunks round about the city. Their young men and maidens I burned in the fire.

“Twenty men I captured alive and I immured them in the wall of his palace . . .